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Meet Matcha!

Posted Feb 22 2013 12:17pm

Matcha-Coconut Shake

Ever heard of matcha? It’s powdered green tea that’s a specialty of Japan, usually presented and served during an elaborate tea ceremony. The ultra-fine green powder is whisked into hot water with a bamboo whisk until it has completely dissolved. Not much is used since matcha is only made from the highest-quality, most flavorful tea leaves. If you’ve only had standard brewed green tea, you’ll be surprised at how much more flavorful matcha is! You can find bags of matcha in Japanese grocery stores or in well-stocked mainstream grocery stores featuring a large section of Asian goods.

Because matcha can taste a little bitter, it’s often paired with something sweet and/or creamy, like being served alongside a traditional Japanese sweet cake or (in a modern twist) being blended into green tea ice cream. For my riff on matcha, I thought I’d go with that same sweet/creamy idea and blend the fine powder into a coconut smoothie tinged with honey. The resulting flavor is smooth but striking — you probably haven’t tasted anything quite like it before!

If you’d like a thicker shake, use more coconut milk and less water; if you’d like a sweeter shake, add a little more honey. And if you’re a newbie to the green tea scene, perhaps start with half the amount of matcha and taste your blended shake before adding more of the matcha. Either way, you’ll end up with a delicately light green shake that captures the spirit of matcha (and its health benefits!) while taming it with a little sweetness and creaminess.

Matcha-Coconut Shake

Place 1/2 cup whole coconut milk, 1/2 cup water, and 2 ice cubes in a blender. Add 1/2 tsp. matcha and 2 tsp. honey. Blend until smooth, then pour into a waiting glass. Let it sit for a minute or two to allow a nice head of froth to build up on top. (Froth is the best part!) I like to scoop up the froth with a spoon and then drink the rest.